‘Pistol’ Pete Maravich wore this jersey during a 1971 game as a member of the New Orleans Jazz.

ALL BALL NERVE CENTER — News broke last night that the NBA was considering allowing some players to wear nicknames on their jerseys. Now, before the Fun Police show up and try to ruin this for everyone, let’s make clear that according to the story, this is just a one-time thing — one game, two teams (Miami and Brooklyn), for only one night. But it’s clearly indicative of an idea that the NBA is at the very least open to considering, even if only on a limited basis.

Nicknames on jerseys has happened in other sports — soccer players around the world do it now, and closer to home, former Braves owner Ted Turner once tried to give pitcher Andy Messersmith the nickname “Channel” so that his jersey would read “Channel 17,” a free ad for Turner’s nascent broadcasting business.

This has also taken place in the NBA and ABA, back in the day, as seen in the photo of “Pistol” Pete Maravich up top on this post. But as the NBA has grown in popularity and become more corporate, the wiggle room for fun stuff like nicknames on jerseys has been squeezed out.

As a person who is an avowed opponent of the Fun Police, I am one-thousand-million percent in favor of this idea, if only because I’m sure fans of different players would love to rock jerseys with nicknames on the back. Above and beyond the jerseys we night see in a Miami/Brooklyn game — KING JAMES, for instance — off the top of my head, here are some nicknames that would be neat to see on the back of official NBA jerseys…

You know who else put nicknames on the back of their jersey’s, the XFL. Never heard of it? Probably cause it was a joke, just like this would be. If they want to make jersey’s with the nicknames on the back for the fans then do it, you don’t need to put it on players jersey’s in an actual game. Leave that for the street ball tour and leave the credibility in the game for the best league in the world, the NBA.

so by your logic then kobe thinks he is literally a snake, obviously you just don’t like LeBron, maybe its time to be honest with yourself, recognize your bias, then grow up and get past it because its immature and pointless.

Take it one step further… Team nicknames for one game only. Imagine “Lob City” (Clippers), with CP3 on the back or “High Griffinition”. New Logo, new jersey. If the jersey’s were sold, limited edition, each year being different. I feel like people would get behind that and buy it up as well. Just an idea. or just the original names of the teams back from the divided ABA-NBA.

This would kill the league. Back in the day they used to do this (Pistol, Iceman, etc.) and what we got was a league full of hotheads and thugs. The games would end in fist fights and egos running over, the game of basketball was forgotten. Now the greatness of some of the players cannot be questioned but why revert? Why go back to that?

Nicknames would be alright… Maybe not every night on a jersey but it would be fun. If not nicknames, I say initials (i.e. KG for Kevin Garnett, TD – Tim Duncan, JT – Jason Terry, AK – Andrei Kirilenko, KB – Kobe Bryant, etc.) for veteran players and rookies/sophmores wear their regular last name.

nicknames is fun only during special games like the all star. but how about during the regular season? I think we should give nicknames to the bench.. let’s start with Luke Walton – “Bench Warmer”; Or.. “Warmed Up”, “Break My Sweat” or”Too Cold”

The NBA does realize that they already sell custom jerseys, right? Meaning anyone who wants a #6 Heat jersey with “King James” on the back, or a #24 “Black Mamba” Lakers jersey, or ANY other combination of team, number and name, can already buy them.

You want a nickname jersey? Just buy it. You don’t have to wait for your player to wear it in a game.

The idea of a nickname on the back of a professional NBA player’s jersey is strictly playground, but you got game Cornelius…nailed it with your nicknames. Just one question, what moniker would you give Westbrook ?

I like the idea, maybe just for one game or maybe fun like late night weekend games. But not all nba players have nicknames so it would be cool to see what players have what. It only would be fun only if fans give the nicknames to players not them make up there own. Lets face it not all nba players are hott or had big enough careers to earn a nickname or given one.

D) I don’t think it is proper to allow NBA players nicknames on their jerseys. Even though Pistol Pete was an exception, there are simply too many other players with nicknames and would just confuse newer viewers on who the announcers are referring to if their real name isn’t on the back of their jerseys.

I don’t think it is proper to allow NBA players nicknames on their jerseys. Even though Pistol Pete was an exception, there are simply too many other players with nicknames and would just confuse newer viewers on who the announcers are referring to if their real name isn’t on the back of their jerseys.

People don’t read and just want their 2 cents. Its for promotional games, or just one regular season game or so, READ! IT It takes away nothing from the game, they do it all the time, from throwbacks, to latin nights, to christmas jerseys. It’s all the same.

Here are some That haven’t seemingly been mentioned. My apologies if otherwise